Watch indicator ring

ABSTRACT

A WATCH INCLUDES A MOVEMENT, A CASE, AND A RING ROTATABLY ATTACHED TO THE BEZEL PORTION OF THE CASE. THE RING IS SNAP-FITTED ON THE BEZEL AND INCLUDES AT LEAST THREE INTEGRAL FLEXIBLE SPRING-LIKE PORTIONS.

12,3971 R. .LGRQHQSW 3 9 I WATCH INDICATOR: RING Filed Juxw 9,- 1969 FIG. i

United States Patent 3,553,958 WATCH INDICATOR RING Raymond J. Grohoski, Watertowu, Conn., assignor to Timex Corporation, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 9, 1969, Ser. No. 831,640 Int. Cl. G04b 37/12, 39/00 US. C]. 58-91 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A watch includes a movement, a case, and a ring rotatably attached to the bezel portion of the case. The ring is snap-fitted on the bezel and includes at least three integral flexible spring-like portions.

The present invention relates to horology and more particularly to a revolvable indicator ring.

Watches having revolvable indicator rings have become increasingly popular. For example, many persons like to wear the so-called skin diver type of watch, which has a revolvable ring attached to the bezel portion of the watch case. The ring is marked to indicate 60 minutes and is rotated to indicate the elapsed time of a dive. Many of those watches are bought by persons who do not skin dive, but who nevertheless like to wear the watch. Revolvable indicator dials may also be used to indicate different time zones, dates of the month, days of the month, or may have other scales on their faces.

The constructions which have been proposed for the indicator ring and its support are relatively complex, costly and are often unsatisfactory. For example, the ring may be mounted on a top ledge of the bezel and a ring-like flat corrugated friction spring positioned between the bezel and the indicator ring. The friction spring is often made of a metal which becomes corroded, for example, by rust or other oxidation. The spring normally urges the indicator ring against the bezel and permits turning of the indicator ring. However, the corrosion of the spring may prevent its proper functioning. In addition, such springs are diflicult to manufacture so that they provide a constant holding power. Consequently, the indicator ring may be loose or too difiicult to turn.

It is the objective of the present invention to provide an indicator ring structure for a watch case which ring structure is corrosion-proof, reliable and constant in operation, simple to assemble, relatively inexpensive, does not appreciably wear in useage, and which may be readily replaced.

Other objectives of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description provided below, giving the inventors best mode of practicing the invention, the description being taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is ta top plan view of the watch of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the bezel of the watch case, showing the indicator ring in its normal position;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing the indicator ring in its revolvable position; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of the indicator ring, taken along line A-A of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the watch of the present invention Patented Jan. 12, 1971 is a wrist watch 1 having a watch case 2. The Watch case includes a bezel portion 3. A crystal 4 encloses the top of the case and protects the movement. The movement may be a conventional watch movement having a seconds hand 5, a minute hand 6, and an hour hand 7. The watch may also have a hand which rotates each 24 hours (not shown). Time indications 9 are applied on a dial 10 beneath the crystal 4.

A rotatable indicator ring 11 is revolvably attached to the bezel 3. The ring may have, as indicated, time indications 12 showing sixty minutes. In this version of a skin diver watch, the ring may be rotated relative to the time indications on the dial in order to show an elapsed amount of time. Alternatively, the ring may have twelve hour markings to indicate time zones. Alternative marking scales may be presented on the indicator ring, for example, days of the week or dates.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bezel 3 is made of metal or, alternatively, of plastic. The bezel has a top ledge portion 13 having an annular channel 14. An annular flange 15, an integral part of bezel 3, is cut-back on its exterior face 16 to form a protruding top shoulder 17. The face 16 is tapered so that it has a larger outside diameter at its top 17 than at its bottom.

The indicator ring 11 is preferably molded from a durable self-lubricating plastic resin such as nylon, which is also somewhat flexible. The ring has a top face 18 upon which, as described above, are printed or otherwise positioned a scale, such as time or date indications. A plurality of portions 20 are integral with the ring 11 and extend from the bottom of the ring. A series of indentations in the ring form a knurled surface and are used to help turn the ring. The inner wall 21 of the ring 11 is tapered so that its inner diameter is larger at the top than at the bottom. As shown in FIG. 4, the feet 20 are preferably three feet evenly spaced around the circumference of the ring. Each foot is in the form of an arch relative to the body of the indicator ring 11. The ring has at least two such feet, although more may be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, under normal conditions the feet 20 urge the ring 11 against the outer face 17 of the flange with suflicient force so that the ring will not turn under slight accidental pressure or shock. The normal force of the spring feet, shown by arrow A, is upward.

The user, in operation, at FIG. 3, places a downward force, shown by arrow B, on the ring 11. This compresses the arches of the spring feet and brings the surface 19 of the indicator ring away from the surface 16 of the flange. The ring revolves with its feet 20 in the groove 14.

The ring 11 is made sufficiently flexible so that it may be assembled by being snap-fitted (pressed) over the protruding portion 17 of the flange. Similarly, its removal simply involves it being forced over the flange.

The revolvable indicator ring is completely rust-proof as it is made of plastic. It is easily assembled to the watch case by simply snapping it in position over the flange 15. The indicator ring is relatively inexpensive as it may be molded as a single unit.

I claim:

1. A watch including a watch case having a bezel, the bezel having an annular top ledge portion and a depressed channel portion, a crystal mounted on the bezel, and an indicating ring, said ring being of a flexible plastic resin and consisting of an annular ring portion snap-fitted over said protruding portion of the bezel, and at least two integral flexible protruding spring feet positioned between said ring portion and the ledge portion of the bezel.

2. A watch as in claim 1 wherein the spring feet are arch-shaped.

3. A watch as in claim 1 wherein the indicating ring has an inside tapered wall which grows enlarged toward the bottom of the ring, said wall cooperating with'a tapered wall on a flange on the bezel, said tapering wall on the bezel flange growing enlarged at its upper portion; whereby the ring is snap-fitted into position.

4. A watch as in claim 1 wherein said integral feet ride in said depressed channel portion and said feet ride in said groove.

5. A watch as in claim 1 wherein the top of the indicator ring is marked to indicate time zone difference.

6. A watch as in claim 1 wherein the top of the indicator ring is marked to indicate elapsed time.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner S. A. WAL, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

